Thanksgiving is all about coming together, being grateful for what we have in life, and oh yeah, eating a ton of food. Turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing are some of the iconic staples on the Thanksgiving menu, but all the grocery shopping can be expensive. If you’re feeling stressed out about shopping this holiday season, I’ve got a few tricks that might help you save money.
Here are my tips on how to celebrate Thanksgiving on a budget while still eating all the same amazing dishes. I’ll walk you through my favorite hacks on how to make the most of your money while grocery shopping so you can put together a great meal. Whether you’re a broke college student or someone just trying to save money this holiday season, check out these tips to celebrate a great Thanksgiving on a budget!
1) Plan out your Thanksgiving menu
You might be wondering why you’d plan out Thanksgiving dinner, because after all, it’s Thanksgiving. Why make a list of what you’re going to eat, when you already know exactly what it is? But trust me, it’s a great way to look at everything you’re going to need to buy before the big day.
Instead of randomly buying ingredients you might need, I suggest writing out a list of all the dishes you want on Thanksgiving prior to buying the ingredients. That way, you’ll have a clear vision of the menu and what you’ll need to purchase. You’ll know how many cans of corn to buy or if you’ll need an extra bag of potatoes. It’s a great way to outline what you’ll need that will help you stay organized and save you from wasting money you didn’t need to spend. If you go into the store with a plan, you’ll be less likely to waste money you didn’t need to spend.
2) Buy what you’ll eat, not what you think you’ll eat
Every year, my mom makes stuffing. It’s one of the classic dishes you’ll find on tables on Thanksgiving, but every year, I ask my mom why she makes it, since no one really likes it that much. She just makes it cause she feels she has to. It’s a staple! Who doesn’t make stuffing on Thanksgiving? Next think we know, it’s in sitting in the fridge for two weeks before my mom remembers it exists and throws it out. Is it worth spending the money on a dish no one likes?
All that being said, don’t try to conform to the standard Thanksgiving menu if you don’t actually like the food. Why waste time and money making a dish you won’t eat? So forget tradition and make what you actually want to eat. If you don’t like stuffing, don’t buy the ingredients for stuffing! You’ll spend your money more wisely and actually enjoy what you put on your table.
3) Compare costs of multiple stores
This is a tip that has helped me immensely whenever I try to shop on a budget. Whenever I’m out shopping, it can be easy to just purchase what I need from one store, as I’m already there. But stores differ in prices, especially when it comes to food and produce. So my question is: Why buy from one store without checking the price at another?
With the internet, it’s easy to compare prices. You can simply pull up the store’s website and check the price for yourself without having to drive back and forth. I have found that checking different stores has helped save me money in the long term. It’s especially helpful around Thanksgiving, when the main focus of the holiday is on the food itself. Get the best deal that you can, even if it means shopping at more than one grocery store.
4) Sign up for Rewards!
It might not seem like it all at once, but using Rewards Programs is an excellent way to save money. The deals stores offer might shave off a dollar or two, but in the long run, it adds up! A lot of young people don’t utilize coupons, and for an expensive meal like Thanksgiving, coupons can help cut down on the cost!
Stores often put out deals around the holidays as well, which can be very helpful for holiday grocery shopping. Why pay full price when you can get a deal on it? Next time you go to the store, check out their Rewards program. I promise that you can stretch out your money a little further with the help of coupons.
5) Find cheaper alternatives
You might be tempted to make all of the Thanksgiving meals yourself, but let me say you don’t have to. Thanksgiving can be an incredibly overwhelming holiday. Most of the day is spent in the kitchen, laboring over the stove and preparing copious amounts of food. Don’t stress yourself out by making each meal from scratch. Sometimes it’s okay to turn to store-bought alternatives!
You can save a bit of money and a lot of time if you buy prepared food from stores. For example, my mom always likes to make biscuits for Thanksgiving. Meaning, she’s up early that morning preparing the dough, letting it rise, and then watching it in the oven until it’s ready. It’s a laborious task, among all the other meals she and my dad work on throughout the day. Last year, my family decided to try something different to make the day easier. We bought ready-to-bake biscuits from Trader Joes and they were fantastic. All we had to do was pop them in the oven and they had turned out phenomenally.
My point is if you can find store-bought alternatives to side dishes and trimmings, you can actually save money. Instead of buying extra butter and milk for the biscuits, my mom was able to save money and go for a slightly cheaper option. If you shop around, maybe test a few samples, you can find a great alternative to Thanksgiving staples and save money at the same time.
If you’re curious about the Trader Joe’s biscuits, you can find them here on the Trader Joe’s website!
Are these tips worth it?
Like I’ve said, Thanksgiving can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re smart with your money, you can find cheaper ways to grocery shop for the big day without hurting your wallet. Some of these tips might seem more time consuming, but don’t let that stop you. If you set time aside and think carefully about where your money is going, you can make smarter purchases to save in the long run.
